Skip to main content

Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: inhibitory signaling

October 2019
Neurons in a mouse brain are highlighted green and yellow

Autism gene’s loss hampers neurons’ trek through developing brain

by  /  21 October 2019

Deleting an autism gene called TRIO derails neurons’ journey to their destination.

Comments

Transplanted neurons rescue social behavior but not brain circuits

by  /  20 October 2019

Injecting cells called interneurons into the brains of a mouse model of autism restores typical social behavior. But the reason for this effect is a puzzle.

Comments

Signaling imbalance in mutant mice supports key autism theory

by  /  19 October 2019

Mice missing a copy of CHD8, a top autism gene, show a signaling imbalance in their brains — a finding in line with a popular hypothesis about autism’s origins.

Comments
August 2019

Drugs that calm ‘touch neurons’ may ease autism traits

by  /  8 August 2019

An experimental drug that muffles the activity of neurons in the skin moderates heightened reactions to touch in six mouse models of autism.

Comments
May 2019

The signaling imbalance theory of autism, explained

by  /  1 May 2019

The signaling imbalance theory holds that the brains of autistic people are hyper-excitable because of either excess neuronal activity or weak brakes on that activity.

Comments
February 2019
Close up of mouse shows whiskers

Four sets of mice call popular autism theory into question

by  /  25 February 2019

An analysis of four mouse models negates certain assumptions underlying the signaling imbalance theory of autism.

Comments
January 2019
Rat neurons

Rat model of autism shows unusual brain growth at birth

by  /  30 January 2019

The brains of rats exposed in utero to the seizure drug valproate show a significant increase in brain size around the time of birth.

Comments
December 2018

Massive analysis refines map of autism’s genetic roots

by  /  19 December 2018

The largest genetic analysis of postmortem brain tissue to date has yielded maps of when and where genes related to autism are turned on and off throughout life.

Comments
November 2018
Two hands hold two pills, one red and one blue.

Drug duo delivers brain, behavioral benefits for fragile X syndrome

by  /  8 November 2018

Administering a cholesterol drug alongside an antibiotic eases atypical behavior and restores the signaling balance in the brains of people with fragile X syndrome.

Comments
Delicate network of neurons and synapses.

Webbing around neurons altered in autism mouse models

by  /  8 November 2018

Lattice-like structures that surround neurons may be overly abundant — or scarce — in brain regions of three autism mouse models.

Comments